Recording tape cartridge

ABSTRACT

A recording tape cartridge includes a case that comprises an upper case and a lower case and houses a reel around which recording tape is wound. A regulating wall that defines an area in which the reel is housed is formed on the upper case and on the lower case. An attachment member is held between the regulating wall of the upper case and the regulating wall of the lower case so as to be disposed on an outer peripheral surface side of the regulating wall. The attachment member holds an RFID. There is provided a recording tape cartridge that can ensure an attachment region for an RFID inside a case.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2008-090994, the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording tape cartridge whererecording tape such as recording tape that is used as a recording andreproducing medium mainly for computers and the like is housed inside acase.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there have been known recording tape cartridges whererecording tape such as magnetic tape that is used as a data recordingand reproducing medium (data backup) for computers and the like is woundaround a reel that is made of a synthetic resin and where the reel issingly housed inside a case. Sometimes a non-contact memory board, inwhich various information such as the recording capacity and therecording format of the recording tape is stored, is housed in thisone-reel type recording tape cartridge, and the memory board isconfigured to be accessible by a dedicated reading and writing devicethat is disposed in a drive device or a library device.

Meanwhile, conventionally, there have also been proposed two-reel typevideo cassettes where, in contrast to the memory board, a non-contact ICtag (RFID) that is accessible by a common (inexpensive) reading andwriting device is disposed on a back label side (e.g., see JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open Publication (JP-A) No. 10-172263). It isnecessary to form the length of the antenna of the IC tag long in orderto extend the communication distance of the IC tag, and therefore the ICtag is formed in a certain size (area). In the case of a two-reel typevideo cassette, attaching the IC tag can be done easily because the areaon the back label side thereof is large.

However, in the case of a one-reel type recording tape cartridge, thesize of the entire one-reel type recording tape cartridge is about halfthe size of a two-reel type video cassette, so the size of the backlabel side thereof is also about half, and it becomes difficult toattach the IC tag to the back label side. Further, when the IC tag isadhered by an adhesive to the inside of the case, there arises theproblem that rotation of the reel is hindered by the IC tag when the ICtag peels off inside the housing area of the reel as a result ofdegradation over time (a drop in the durability) of the adhesive. Inthis manner, there is the problem that, when an IC tag that has acertain size (area) is to be attached to the inside of a case of arecording tape cartridge, it is difficult to ensure an attachment regionfor the IC tag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention provides a recording tape cartridge that canensure an attachment region for an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)inside a case.

A recording tape cartridge pertaining to a first aspect of the inventionincludes: a case that has an upper case and a lower case and houses areel around which recording tape is wound; a regulating wall that isformed on the upper case and on the lower case and defines an area inwhich the reel is housed; an attachment member that is held between theregulating wall of the upper case and the regulating wall of the lowercase and is disposed on an outer peripheral surface side of theregulating wall; and an RFID that is held on the attachment member.

In the recording tape cartridge pertaining to the first aspect of theinvention, the attachment member to which the RFID is held can bedisposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the regulating wallbecause the attachment member is held between the regulating wall of theupper case and the regulating wall of the lower case that define thehousing area of the reel. In other words, thus, an attachment region forthe RFID can be ensured inside the case.

Further, in the recording tape cartridge pertaining to the first aspectof the invention, the regulating wall may be formed in a planar viewsubstantially circular arc shape, and the attachment member may beformed in a planar view substantially circular arc shape that isconfigured to have substantially the same curvature as that of theregulating wall.

According to this configuration, the attachment member to which the RFIDis held can be disposed along the planar view substantially circulararc-shaped regulating wall that defines the housing area of the reel.

Further, in the recording tape cartridge pertaining to either of theabove configurations, a positioning portion that positions theattachment member may be formed in at least one of the regulating wallof the upper case and the regulating wall of the lower case.

According to this configuration, the attachment member to which the RFIDis held can be positioned and disposed on the regulating wall thatdefines the housing area of the reel.

Further, in the recording tape cartridge pertaining to any of the aboveconfigurations, an engagement portion may be formed on at least one ofthe regulating wall of the upper case and the regulating wall of thelower case, and an engaged portion with which the engagement portionengages may be formed on the attachment member.

According to this configuration, the attachment member to which the RFIDis held can be positioned and disposed on the regulating wall thatdefines the housing area of the reel.

Further, in the recording tape cartridge pertaining to any of the aboveconfigurations, the attachment member may be surface-treated with ametal coating that is capable of being used as an antenna portion of theRFID.

According to this configuration, the communication performance of theRFID can be improved.

As described above, according to the present invention, there can beprovided a recording tape cartridge that can ensure an attachment regionfor an RFID inside a case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a recording tape cartridge;

FIG. 2 is a general exploded perspective view of the recording tapecartridge;

FIG. 3 is a general perspective view showing a lower case and anattachment member to which an IC tag is to be adhered;

FIG. 4 is a general perspective view showing the lower case and theattachment member to which the IC tag has been adhered;

FIG. 5 is a general perspective view showing the attachment member thathas been attached to the lower case;

FIG. 6 is a general cross-sectional view showing the attachment memberthat has been disposed inside a case;

FIG. 7 is a general perspective view of the attachment member;

FIG. 8 is a general perspective view showing another attachment memberbefore being attached to a play regulating wall;

FIG. 9 is a general perspective view showing the other attachment memberafter being attached to the play regulating wall;

FIG. 10 is a general perspective view showing the lower case and anotherattachment member to which the IC tag is to be adhered; and

FIG. 11A is a general perspective view showing the attachment member inwhich antenna portions have been formed and the IC tag, and FIG. 11B isa general perspective view showing the attachment member in which theantenna portions have been formed and to which an IC portion has beenattached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Below, the best modes for implementing the present invention will bedescribed in detail on the basis of embodiments shown in the drawings.For the sake of convenience of description, in FIG. 1, arrow Arepresents the direction in which a recording tape cartridge 10 isloaded into a drive device (not shown) and will be referred to as afront direction (front side) of the recording tape cartridge 10.Additionally, the direction of arrow B, which is orthogonal to arrow A,will be referred to as a right direction (right side). Further, arrow Crepresents a direction that is orthogonal to the direction of arrow Aand the direction of arrow B and will be referred to as an upperdirection (upper side) of the recording tape cartridge 10.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the recording tape cartridge 10 isconfigured such that a reel 14, around which is wound recording tape Tsuch as magnetic tape that is an information recording and reproducingmedium, is rotatably and singly housed inside a case 12 that isconfigured to have a substantially rectangular shape when seen in aplanar view. The case 12 is configured as a result of a peripheral wall16A of an upper case 16 and a peripheral wall 18A of a lower case 18being brought into contact with each other to join together the uppercase 16 and the lower case 18 whose right front corner portions, whichare one corner portion on a leading side of the recording tape cartridge10 in the direction in which the recording tape cartridge 10 is loadedinto the drive device, have been diagonally cut out, and a housing spacethat houses the reel 14 is formed inside the case 12.

Further, the cutout corner portions of the peripheral walls 16A and 18Aof the upper case 16 and the lower case 18 are configured as an opening20 for allowing the recording tape T to be pulled out, and a leader pin22 that is locked (engaged) and pulled out by pullout means (not shown)of the drive device is connected to a free end of the recording tape Tthat is pulled out from this opening 20. Annular grooves 22A are formedin both end portions of the leader pin 22 that project from the widthdirection edges of the recording tape T, and hooks or the like of thepullout means lock into these annular grooves 22A. Thus, the hooks orthe like do not contact and damage the recording tape T when the pulloutmeans pulls out the recording tape T.

Further, a pair of upper and lower pin holding portions 24 that positionand hold the leader pin 22 inside the case 12 is disposed inside theopening 20 in the case 12. The pin holding portions 24 havesubstantially semicylindrical shapes and are configured such that bothend portions of the leader pin 22 in an upright state are held insiderecessed portions 24A of the pin holding portions 24. It will be notedthat the recording tape T pullout sides of the pin holding portions 24are open and serve as entries and exits that the leader pin 22 entersand from which the leader pin 22 exits.

Further, a plate spring 25 is fixedly disposed in the vicinity of thepin holding portions 24 as a result of its base portion being insertedinto groove portions 23 and spring holding portions 27 that are disposedin the inner surface of a front wall 12A (portions of the outer surfacesof the peripheral walls 16A and 18A that face the direction of arrow A),and a two-pronged distal end portion of the plate spring 25 isconfigured to engage with the upper and lower ends of the leader pin 22and hold the leader pin 22 in the pin holding portions 24. It will benoted that the distal end portion of the plate spring 25 is configuredto appropriately elastically deform to allow movement of the leader pin22 when the leader pin 22 enters and exits the pin holding portions 24.

Moreover, a gear opening 26 for exposing a reel gear (not shown) of thereel 14 to the outside is disposed in the center portion of the lowercase 18, and the reel 14 is driven to rotate inside the case 12 as aresult of the reel gear meshing with a drive gear (not shown) of thedrive device. Further, the area in which the reel 14 is housed isdefined by a (planar view substantially circular arc-shaped) playregulating wall (regulating wall) 28 that is respectively partiallydisposed on, so as to project from, the inner surfaces of the upper case16 and the lower case 18 and is on a circular locus (on a circumference)that is coaxial with the gear opening 26. Additionally, the reel 14 ishoused on the inner side of the play regulating wall 28 and is held soas to not rattle.

Further, in the lower case 18, a pocket portion 28A, inside of which isformed a position regulating hole, is disposed consecutively with theend portion of the play regulating wall 28 in the vicinity of theopening 20. On the inner side of the left front corner portion of thelower case 18, a pocket portion 29, inside of which is formed a positionregulating hole that is an elongate hole, is disposed away from the playregulating wall 28. The pocket portions 28A and 29 are disposed on astraight line along the direction of arrow B, and areas around theposition regulating holes on the undersurface side of the lower case 18(portions that have the same thickness as, or are slightly wider than,the pocket portions 28A and 29) are configured as reference surfaces forpositioning with respect to the drive device.

Additionally, the play regulating wall 28 of the lower case 18partitions the inside of the case 12 into areas on the outer side of theplay regulating wall 28 and a housing area (housing space) of the reel14 as a result of its end portions, excluding the end portion where thepocket portion 28A is consecutively disposed, being disposedconsecutively with the peripheral wall 18A. Further, the play regulatingwall 28 of the upper case 16 also similarly (in vertical symmetry)partitions the inside of the case 12 into areas on the outer side of theplay regulating wall 28 and a housing area (housing space) of the reel14 as a result of its end portions being disposed consecutively with theperipheral wall 16A. Thus, the strength of the case 12 can be improved,and the dust-proofness of the housing area of the reel 14 can beimproved.

Further, the outer peripheral surface of the play regulating wall 28 ofthe lower case 18 on the rear side of the case 12 and the peripheralwall 18B are integrally interconnected by connecting ribs 66 and 68. Theconnecting ribs 66 and 68 are both formed in flat plate shapes whoselongitudinal direction is in the front-rear direction of the case 12,and the connecting rib 66 and the connecting rib 68 are formed apredetermined distance away from each other in the left-right direction(in bilateral symmetry). It will be noted that the connecting ribs 66and 68 are also similarly (in vertical symmetry) formed on the uppercase 16.

Further, a screw boss 60 that forms a vertical pair with a screw boss 60on the upper case 16 is disposed in a predetermined position between thefront wall 12A and the play regulating wall 28 on the side where thepocket portion 29 is disposed, and screw bosses 62 and 64 that formvertical pairs with screw bosses 62 and 64 on the upper case 16 are alsodisposed in predetermined positions in both corner portions between boththe left and right end portions of a rear portion inner surface 18B ofthe lower case 18 and a left wall 12C and a right wall 12B. Thesevertical pairs of screw bosses 60, 62 and 64 penetrate the lower case 18but do not penetrate the upper case 16.

Further, a pair of upper and lower short slanted wall portions 30 thatdefine the front edge portion of the opening 20 is disposed on the rightend portion of the front wall 12A of the case 12. The slanted wallportions 30 are formed so as to bend along the open surface of theopening 20 and become dust-proof walls to ensure that a gap throughwhich dust or the like can ingress does not arise when the leading endof a later-described planar view substantially circular arc-shaped door50 enters the inner sides of the slanted wall portions 30 when the door50 closes off the opening 20. Additionally, a pair of upper and lowerscrew bosses 32 is disposed consecutively with the inner side of thefront wall 12A in the vicinity of the left sides of the slanted wallportions 30.

Further, a pair of upper and lower slanted wall portions 34 of shapesthat substantially follow the outer peripheral surface of thelater-described door 50 when seen in a planar view is disposed on theinner side of the front end portion of the right wall 12B (portions ofthe outer surfaces of the peripheral walls 16A and 18A that face thedirection of arrow B) of the case 12. The front end surfaces of theslanted wall portions 34 define the rear edge of the opening 20, and apair of upper and lower screw bosses 36 is disposed in the front endportions thereof.

Further, a slit 40 of a predetermined length that serves as a windowportion that allows the inside and the outside of the case 12 to becommunicated with each other is disposed in the right wall 12B of thecase 12, and the slit 40 is configured to expose an operation projection52 of the later-described door 50. The slit 40 is formed by cutting outthe front side lower portion of the peripheral wall 16A of the uppercase 16 that configures the right wall 12B, and the slit 40 opens towardthe opening 20. It is preferable for the slit 40 to be formed such thatsome of the peripheral wall 16A remains on the upper side in thismanner, because the rigidity of the case 12 can be maintained. It isparticularly preferable for the wall on the upper side that defines theslit 40 to be integrally disposed consecutively from the slanted wallportion 34.

Further, a recessed portion 48 whose portion excluding the upper end ofthe peripheral wall 18A is recessed inward of the case 12 and is alsorecessed upward from the undersurface of the case 12 (the bottom plateis cut out) in a cross-sectional view substantial “U” shape is formedtoward the rear side of the lower case 18. This recessed portion 48 is,for example, configured as an engagement portion with which pull-inmeans (not shown) of the drive device engages, and the bottom surface(the surface that faces down) of the recessed portion 48 is configuredas a reference surface for positioning inside the drive device.

Further, a recessed portion 46 whose portion excluding the upper end ofthe peripheral wall 18A is recessed inward of the case 12 and is alsorecessed upward from the undersurface of the case 12 (the bottom plateis cut out) in a cross-sectional view substantial “U” shape is alsoformed on the rear side of the recessed portion 48. This recessedportion 46 is, for example, configured as an engagement portion withwhich gripping means (not shown) of a library device engages, and thetorsional strength of the case 12 (the lower case 18) is improved bydisposing these recessed portions 46 and 48.

Further, a planar view substantially trapezoidal recessed portion 44 isformed in the upper surface portion of the left wall of the upper case16. The recessed portion 44 is configured as an engagement portion withwhich a holding member (not shown) that is disposed in the drive deviceengages in order to cancel the rotational moment that accompaniesmovement in the opening direction of the door 50 when the door 50 opensthe opening 20.

Further, in the upper case 16 and in the lower case 18, guide wallportions 42 of a predetermined height (e.g., a height of about 1.0 mm toabout 1.5 mm) that support tongue portions 51 of the later-describeddoor 50 so as to sandwich the tongue portions 51 from both their innersurface sides and their outer surface sides are disposed upright fromthe vicinity of the opening 20 to the vicinity of the site where theplay regulating wall 28 comes closest to the right wall 12B (called“front halves” below) and from the vicinity of the rear end of the slit40 to the vicinity of the rear wall (called “rear halves” below).

The lengths of these guide wall portions 42 differ between the uppercase 16 and the lower case 18, with the rear half of the guide wallportion 42 of the upper case 16 being longer than the rear half of theguide wall portion 42 of the lower case 18. This is because alater-described memory board M is disposed on the right wall 12B side ofthe rear portion inner surface 18B of the lower case 18. Further, therear end portions of the rear halves of the guide wall portions 42 areclosed off in planar view substantially circular arc shapes andrespectively regulate the rearmost tongue portions 51 above and belowsuch that the door 50 cannot move any further rearward.

The front end portions of the front halves of the guide wall portions 42are open, and the front halves of the guide wall portions 42 aredisposed so as to extend as far as positions where they do not hinderthe entering and exiting of the leader pin 22 when the leader pin 22enters and exits (the positions shown in the drawings are on the rearside of the pin holding portions 24 and are about half of the openingwidth of the opening 20). Further, guide wall portions 41 whose rear endportions are open are also disposed upright in the vicinity of theslanted wall portions 30 so as to be positioned on extension lines ofthe guide wall portions 42. The guide wall portions 41 are configured tonot extend rearward beyond the front ends of the pin holding portions 24such that the rear end portions of the guide wall portions 41 do nothinder the entering and exiting of the leader pin 22, and the door 50 isconfigured to close off the opening 20 in a state where the leading endof the door 50 has entered the guide wall portions 41.

Further, the guide wall portions 41 and the front halves of the guidewall portions 42 are formed so as to be slightly lower than the rearhalves of the guide wall portions 42. That is, for example, the heightof the guide wall portions 41 and the front halves of the guide wallportions 42 is formed to be about 1 mm, and the height of the rearhalves of the guide wall portions 42 is formed to be about 1.5 mm. Thisis to ensure space for the pullout means that is disposed in the drivedevice to enter the opening 20. Consequently, as described later, theplate width (height) of the front half portion of the door 50 (at leastthe portion that closes off the opening 20) is formed so as to be larger(higher) in correspondence to the guide wall portions 41 and the fronthalves of the guide wall portions 42 being low.

Moreover, ribs 38 that are integrated with the outer side guide wallportions 42 exposed from the opening 20 and have planar viewsubstantially trapezoidal shapes are disposed upright on the innersurface of the upper case 16 and on the inner surface of the lower case18 so as to become the same height as the guide wall portions 42, andthe strength of the upper case 16 and the lower case 18 at the portionof the opening 20 is ensured by the ribs 38. It will be noted that,although the inner side guide wall portions 42 are disposedconsecutively so as to become integrated with the pin holding portions24, it is desirable for the height of the pin holding portions 24 to beformed at substantially the same height or higher than the height of theguide wall portions 42 that are integrally consecutively disposed.

The upper case 16 and the lower case 18 that have been described aboveare fixed (joined together) as a result of unillustrated screws beingscrewed from below into the screw bosses 32 and 36 that are positionedin the vicinity of the edge portions of the opening 20 and into theabove-described screw bosses 60, 62 and 64. Thus, the corner portions ofboth ends of the opening 20, which are defined particularly by the freeends of the slanted wall portions 30 (the front wall 12A) and theslanted wall portions 34 (the right wall 12B) and which aredisadvantaged in terms of strength and which easily impact with theground or the like as a result of the case 12 being dropped, arestrongly joined together so that, even if the case 12 is dropped, thecorner portions of both ends of the opening 20 do not deform, buckle orshift positions under the weight of the entire recording tape cartridge10.

Further, the opening 20 is configured to be opened and closed by thedoor 50 that serves as a shield member. The plate width (height) of atleast the portion of the door 50 that closes off the opening 20 isformed so as to be substantially the same as the opening height of theopening 20, the plate width (height) of the rear side of the door 50 isformed so as to be slightly smaller (lower), and the plate length of thedoor 50 is formed so as to be sufficiently larger than the opening widthof the opening 20. Additionally, the door 50 is formed in a planar viewsubstantially circular arc shape that is curved in its plate thicknessdirection such that the door 50 can move along a predeterminedcircumference.

The door 50 is configured to close off the opening 20 in a state wherethe leading end portion of the door 50 has entered the guide wallportions 41, slide (rotate) substantially rearward along thepredetermined circumference to open the opening 20, and completely openthe opening 20 when the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of theleading end of the door 50 reaches the vicinity of the screw bosses 36.Additionally, the door is configured to close off the opening 20 bysliding (rotating) in the opposite direction of the direction when thedoor 50 opens the opening 20.

In this manner, the door 50 is formed so as to curve in a circular arcshape that corresponds to the predetermined circumference that is themovement locus of the door 50, and the center of rotation of the door 50is, in the present embodiment, set such that its position in theleft-right direction is in the vicinity of the left end of the case 12and such that its position in the front-rear direction is in thevicinity of the rear end of the slit 40. Thus, the movement locus of thedoor 50 comes closest to the right wall 12B of the case 12 in thevicinity of the rear end of the slit 40. It will be noted that itsuffices for the rotational center and the radius of the door 50 to bedetermined in response to the positions of the front and rear edgeportions (the slanted wall portions 30 and the screw bosses 36) of theopening 20 that are determined by demand from the drive device and theangle of the open surface of the opening 20 that is determined by demandfrom the library device.

Further, the curved longitudinal dimension of the door 50 is determinedsuch that the rear end portion of the door 50 is positioned inside theright rear corner portion of the case 12 behind the recessed portion 48(in the vicinity of the recessed portion 46) in a state where theopening 20 is closed off, and the rear lower portion of the door 50 isdiagonally cut out in order to avoid the memory board M that isdiagonally disposed at a predetermined angle θ by later-describedposition regulating ribs 19. It will be noted that it is preferable forat least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the front endportion of the door 50 to be formed as a tapered surface so that thedoor can smoothly enter between the guide wall portions 41.

Further, the upper surface and the lower surface of the door 50respectively contact guide surfaces (inner surfaces that face eachother) of the guide wall portions 42 and the inner surface of the uppercase 16 and the inner surface of the lower case 18 between the guidewall portions 42, and the tongue portions 51 that guide the door 50 inthe directions in which the door 50 opens and closes the opening 20 aredisposed on, so as to project from, the door 50. The tongue portions 51are formed in planar view substantially elliptical shapes that are longalong the longitudinal direction of the door 50, and the tongue portions51 are disposed on, so as to project from, the door 50 such that thereare four of the tongue portions 51 each on the upper surface and thelower surface of the door 50 in vertical symmetry excluding the rearmosttongue portions 51 and such that the tongue portions 51 havesubstantially the same height as the height of the guide wall portions42 (e.g., the height of the tongue portions 51 on the front side of theboundary portion where the plate widths of the door 50 differ is about0.5 mm, and the height of the tongue portions 51 on the rear side of theboundary portion where the plate widths of the door 50 differ is about1.5 mm). It will be noted that the reason why the rearmost tongueportions 51 are not in vertical symmetry is because the rear lowerportion of the door 50 is diagonally cut out.

When the tongue portions 51 are disposed, sliding resistance (friction)between the door 50 and the inner surface of the upper case 16 and theinner surface of the lower case 18 between the guide wall portions 41and the guide wall portions 42 and also between the door 50 and theguide surfaces of the guide wall portions 41 and the guide wall portions42 can be reduced, and it becomes possible to allow the door 50 to slidesmoothly with little resistance. Moreover, when the tongue portions 51are formed in planar view substantially elliptical shapes, the tongueportions 51 have much better impact-resistance than when, for example,the tongue portions 51 are formed in planar view substantially circularshapes. Consequently, there is no fear that the tongue portions 51 willbreak even when a force is imparted to the door 50 from outside of theopening and closing direction due to an impact such as a drop.

Further, the operation projection 52 that serves as an operation portionis disposed on, so as to project along the radial direction of the door50 from, the outer peripheral surface of the door 50 that is slightly infront of the longitudinal direction center portion of the door 50 (inthe vicinity of the boundary portion where the plate widths of the door50 differ). The operation projection 52 is configured to be exposed tothe outer side of the case 12 from the slit 40, is positioned slightlyaway from the rear ends of the screw bosses 36 in a state where theopening 20 is closed off, and is configured to be operable from theportion that is open toward the front of the slit 40.

Additionally, in a state where the opening 20 is open, the operationprojection 52 is positioned slightly away from the rear edge of the slit40, and, at this time, the rearmost tongue portions 51 contact theclosed-off rear end portions of the guide wall portions 42. It will benoted that, although the inside and the outside of the case 12 arecommunicated with each other by the slit 40 for exposing the operationprojection 52, this slit 40 is always substantially closed off by thescrew bosses 36 and the door 50 that spans substantially the entireheight of the inside of the case 12, and the play regulating wall 28that serves as an inner wall is disposed inside the case 12, so theadhesion of dust or the like to the recording tape T that is woundaround the reel 14 is prevented.

Further, stoppers 58 that contact the side surface of the upper endportion and the side surface of the lower end portion of the leader pin22 when the door 50 closes off the opening 20 are disposed on, so as toproject from, the inner surface of the front end portion of the door 50,and thus the leader pin 22 can be prevented even more from coming out ofthe pin holding portions 24 because of a drop impact or the like.Additionally, a coil spring 56 that serves as an energizing member thatenergizes the door 50 in the direction in which the door 50 closes offthe opening 20 is disposed effectively utilizing the space in the rightrear corner portion of the case 12 between the play regulating wall 28and the right wall 12B (the peripheral walls 16A and 18A) because thedoor 50 has a length that extends to the right rear corner portion ofthe case 12 in a state where the opening 20 is closed off.

That is, a plate-shaped support portion 53 is integrally disposed on, soas to be consecutive with, the inner peripheral surface of the door 50in the vicinity of the rear end of the door 50, a spring holding portion54 is integrally disposed on, so as to project upward from, the uppersurface of the support portion 53, and a cylindrical spring lockingportion 55 is disposed on, so as to project upward from, the innersurface of the lower case 18 in the vicinity of the recessed portion 48.Additionally, ring-shaped attachment portions 56A and 56B arerespectively formed on both ends of the coil spring 56. Consequently,the coil spring 56 can be easily attached inside the above-describedspace by inserting the one attachment portion 56B from above over thespring locking portion 55 and inserting the other attachment portion 56Afrom above over the spring holding portion 54.

Further, a rib 57, which the upper end of the spring holding portion 54slidingly contacts when the door 50 opens and closes, is disposedupright in a planar view substantially circular arc shape on the innersurface of the upper case 16. This rib 57 is disposed in a position andwith a length such that the upper end of the spring holding portion 54can slidingly contact the rib 57 at least when the door 50 begins tomove (open), and the rib 57 ensures that the door 50 is more stablyopened by suitably guiding the spring holding portion 54 that movescounter to the energizing force of the coil spring 56 (so that the door50 does not shake due to the energizing force of the coil spring 56 whenthe door 50 opens).

Further, by disposing this rib 57, it can be ensured that the attachmentportion 56A of the coil spring 56 that has been attached as describedabove does not come off of the spring holding portion 54 even when animpact resulting from a drop or the like is imparted to the case 12 andraises the spring holding portion 54. It will be noted that the upperend of the spring locking portion 55 also becomes inserted between theplay regulating wall 28 and the guide wall portion 42 of the upper case12, so the attachment portion 56B can be similarly prevented from comingoff of the spring locking portion 55.

Further, the memory board M, in which various information such as therecording capacity and the recording format is recorded and which isaccessible without contact, is disposed slanting at the predeterminedangle θ (e.g., θ=45°) in the right rear portion of the lower case 18.That is, the rear portion inner surface 18B of the lower case 18 slantsat the predetermined angle θ, and position regulating ribs 19 areplurally (e.g., two) disposed a predetermined distance away from eachother in the left-right direction on, so as to project from, the innersurface of the lower case 18 in front of the rear portion inner surface18B and in back of the regulating wall 28.

Consequently, the memory board M is disposed on the rear portion innersurface 18B, and the lower end portion of the memory board M issupported by the position regulating ribs 19, whereby the memory board Mis held (so as to not slip and fall) in an orientation where the memoryboard M slants at the predetermined angle θ. It will be noted that it ispreferable for the slanting angle θ of the rear portion inner surface18B to be set to 45° in order to enable access from the undersurfaceside and the rear surface side of the case 12 with respect to the memoryboard M.

Here, the play regulating wall 28 and the like will be described ingreater detail. As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 6, a step portion 72 thatprojects downward is formed on the outer peripheral surface side of theradial direction substantial center portion of the lower end surface ofthe play regulating wall 28 of the upper case 16, and a step portion 74that projects upward is formed on the inner peripheral surface side ofthe radial direction substantial center portion of the upper end surfaceof the play regulating wall 28 of the lower case 18.

Consequently, when the upper case 16 and the lower case 18 have beenjoined together, the step portion 72 of the play regulating wall 28 ofthe upper case 16 and the step portion 74 of the play regulating wall 28of the lower case 18 engage with each other such that a labyrinthstructure is formed at that engagement site. In other words, thus, theingression of dust or the like into the housing area of the reel 14 isdeterred (dust-proofness is ensured).

It will be noted that the recording tape cartridge 10 may also beconfigured such that step portions 66A and 68A (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5)that project upward are formed on the inner sides of the upper endsurfaces of the connecting ribs 66 and 68 of the lower case 18 and suchthat the step portions 66A and 68A are caused to engage with stepportions (not shown) that are formed projecting downward on the outersides of the lower end surfaces of the connecting ribs 66 and 68 of theupper case 16.

Further, a notch portion 70 that serves as a positioning portion thathas been cut out in a substantially rectangular shape is formed in theupper end portion of the play regulating wall 28 between the connectingribs 66 and 68 of the lower case 18, and, similar to the upper case 16side, a step portion 76 whose outer peripheral surface side of itsradial direction substantial center portion projects upward is formed onthe upper end surface of the notch portion 70.

The length (length in the circumferential direction of the playregulating wall 28) of this notch portion (step portion 76) isconfigured to be substantially the same length as the length (length inthe circumferential direction of the play regulating wall 28) of alocking portion 82 of a later-described attachment member 80, and thelocking portion 82 fits together with the notch portion 70 (the stepportion 76), whereby the attachment member 80 is positioned and disposedwith respect to the play regulating wall 28.

The attachment member 80 is, as shown in FIG. 7, formed in a plate shapewith a predetermined height H, a predetermined length W and apredetermined thickness D that is configured to have substantially thesame curvature shape (planar view substantially circular arc shape) whenseen in a planar view as the play regulating wall 28, and alater-described IC tag 100 is configured to be adhered (held) byadhering means such as an adhesive or double-sided tape to an outerperipheral surface 80A where the locking portion 82 is not formed.

Additionally, the locking portion 82 is formed, with the same length asthe length W of the attachment member 80, slightly lower than the heightdirection substantial center portion of an inner peripheral surface 80Bof the attachment member 80. This locking portion 82 is configured tohave a substantial “T” shape when seen in a side sectional view, isdisposed on, so as to project from, the inner peripheral surface 80B,and is configured to be capable of fitting together with the stepportion 72 formed on the play regulating wall 28 of the upper case 16and the step portion 76 formed on the notch portion 70 of the lower case18.

That is, the locking portion 82 includes a support rib 84 that projectsintegrally from the inner peripheral surface 80B of the attachmentmember 80 in the normal direction thereof (the front direction of thecase 12), an upwardly extending rib 86 that projects integrally upwardfrom the distal end of the support rib 84 and a downwardly extending rib88 that projects integrally downward from the distal end of the supportrib 84. The step portion 72 of the upper case 16 fits into the gapbetween the inner peripheral surface 80B and the upwardly extending rib86 on the upper surface of the support rib 84, and the step portion 76of the lower case 18 fits into the gap between the inner peripheralsurface 80B and the downwardly extending rib 88 on the lower surface ofthe support rib 84 (see FIG. 6).

Thus, the attachment member 80 (the locking portion 82) to which the ICtag 100 has been adhered (held) is held in a state where it has beenpositioned between the play regulating wall 28 of the upper case 16 andthe play regulating wall 28 of the lower case 18 and is attached anddisposed in a state where it is along the outer peripheral surface ofthe play regulating wall 28 between the connecting ribs 66 and 68 (seeFIG. 5). It will be noted that this attachment member 80 is formed by aresin material.

Further, the height H of the attachment member 80 is configured to be aheight that is the same as, or slightly lower than, the combined heightof the play regulating wall 28 of the upper case 16 and the playregulating wall 28 of the lower case 18. Additionally, thecircumferential direction length W of the attachment member 80 isconfigured to be a length that is the same as, or slightly smaller than,the length along the play regulating wall 28 between the connecting ribs66 and 68. It will be noted that the thickness D of the attachmentmember 80 is appropriately determined by the space between the playregulating wall 28 and the rear portion inner surface 18B between theconnecting ribs 66 and 68.

The IC tag 100 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, configured as aresult of an IC portion 104 that is disposed with an IC chip and antennaportions (dipole antennas) 106 that are connected to the IC portion 104being disposed on a flexible, thin plate-shaped (film-shaped) basematerial 102 that has a substantially rectangular shape that is capableof being adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the attachmentmember 80.

More specifically, this IC tag 100 is such that the IC portion 104 isdisposed in the substantial center portion of the base material 102, theantenna portions 106 are configured by pole antennas that are disposedso as to extend from a plus side and a minus side of the IC portion 104and become point-symmetrical, and each of the pole antennas isconfigured to have a length of about 75 mm, for example, in its lineardimension (when both sides are combined, the antenna portions 106 have acombined length of about 150 mm, for example).

The length of the antenna portions 106 is appropriately adjusted inconsideration of the permittivity (dielectric constant) of the material(the case 12, the recording tape T, etc.) that is present in thevicinity of the antenna portions 106. For example, when only theatmosphere is present in the vicinity of the antenna portions 106, thepermittivity thereof becomes 1.0 and the length of the antenna portions106 is configured to be the above-described length. Further, forexample, when the antenna portions 106 are covered by a material (aceramic, etc.) with high permittivity (n=5 to 10), the wavelengthapparently becomes shorter, so the length of the antenna portions 106can be made shorter than the above-described length.

Incidentally, the IC tag 100 is configured to be accessible withoutcontact by a common (inexpensive) radio communication format (e.g., aband of 900 MHz and a communication distance of 4 m or less) reading andwriting device (not shown) rather than an electromagnetic (magneticfield) induction format (e.g., a band of 13.56 MHz and a communicationdistance of 0.6 m or less) reading and writing device (not shown) thatis capable of accessing the memory board M without contact.

In other words, although it is necessary for the IC portion 104 to matchthe frequency of the radio waves it receives (to have a resonancefrequency), the IC portion 104 is configured such that it can beaccessed and reading and writing of information can be performed by afrequency (e.g., 900 MHz, which is a UHF band) that is different fromthat of the memory board M. Consequently, the IC portion 104 is capableof being used as antitheft means or inventory managing means such asindividual uniform management of the recording tape cartridge 10 at thetime of diversionary storage from a barcode label and at the time ofcontinuous use by an auto loader, for example.

Further, the storage capacity of the IC portion 104 is configured to be96 bits to 240 bits (12 bytes to 30 bytes), for example, and isconfigured to be a relatively small capacity. This is to make the ICportion 104 compact and because it is necessary to control powerconsumption in order to extend the communication distance. In thismanner, the storage capacity of the IC portion 104 is small, but in thecase of the recording tape cartridge 10 in which the memory board M isinstalled, the information that is to be stored can be dispersed, so thestorage capacity of the IC portion 104 can be ensured so as to becapable of accommodating the degree of freedom of a user. However, it ispossible to store the same information as the memory board M in the ICportion 104 as needed.

Further, the IC tag 100 that is shown is configured to be capable ofaccommodating both an electromagnetic (magnetic field) induction formatand a radio communication format. That is, the antenna portions 106 thatare connected to the IC portion 104 and project out in the longitudinaldirection of the base material 102 are configured to function as radiocommunication format antennas, and an antenna portion 105 that isconnected in a loop manner in the vicinity of the IC portion 104 isconfigured to function as an electromagnetic (magnetic field) inductionformat antenna.

Further, a circumferential direction length L of the base material 102of the IC tag 100 is configured to be substantially the same as thecircumferential direction length W of the attachment member 80 and isformed relatively short. Additionally, a height E of the base material102 of the IC tag 100 is configured to be substantially the same as theheight H of the attachment member H and is formed relatively high. Inthis manner, when the height E of the base material 102 is formed so asto be substantially the same height as the height H of the attachmentmember 80, the length of the antenna portions 106 can be ensured evenwhen the length L of the base material 102 is short (see FIG. 3).

Next, the action of the recording tape cartridge 10 of the aboveconfiguration will be described. When the recording tape cartridge 10 ofthe above-described configuration is not in use (during storage, duringtransport), the opening 20 is closed off by the door 50. Specifically,the door 50 is always energized by the energizing force of the coilspring 56 in the direction in which the door 50 closes off the opening20, and the door 50 closes off the opening 20 in a state where theleading end portion (front end portion) of the door 50 enters the guidewall portions 41 in the vicinity of the slanted wall portions 30.

A plurality of the recording tape cartridges 10 are housed in this statein a library device. Then, a reading and writing device that is disposedin an unillustrated robot hand accesses the memory boards M from therear surface (rear wall) sides of the recording tape cartridges 10,reads the various information such as the recording capacity that isstored in the memory boards M, and transmits that information to acontrol device (not shown). Thus, drive devices that are most suitableto the recording tape cartridges 10 (capable of recording information toand reproducing information from the recording tape cartridges 10) arerecognized beforehand by the control device.

Then, when the recording tape T is to be used, one of the recording tapecartridges 10 is taken out from the library device by the robot hand,and that recording tape cartridge 10 is loaded into a drive device alongthe direction of arrow A. This drive device is a drive device that hasbeen selected as a result of the information stored in the memory boardM having been read, and the recording tape cartridge 10 is loaded intothe drive device smoothly and efficiently by the robot hand. Then, inaccompaniment with this loading, an opening and closing member (notshown) of the drive device enters the forwardly open slit 40 and engageswith the operation projection 52 of the door 50.

In this state, when the recording tape cartridge 10 (the case 12) ispushed further in the direction of arrow A, the opening and closingmember causes the operation projection 52 to move rearward counter tothe energizing force of the coil spring 56 because of this pushing force(causes the operation projection 52 to move relatively rearward withrespect to the case 12 that is loaded in the direction of arrow A).Then, the door 50 from which the operation projection 52 projectsrotates in a clockwise direction when seen in a planar view along thecurving direction thereof while the tongue portions 51 are guided by theguide wall portions 42.

That is, the door 50 moves substantially rearward, so as to move aroundthe outer side of the pin holding portions 24 and the reel 14 withoutprojecting out from the movement locus along the curving shape of thedoor 50 because of the guide wall portions 42, and opens the opening 20.Then, when the case 12 (the recording tape cartridge 10) is loaded apredetermined depth in the drive device, the opening 20 is completelyopened, the recording tape cartridge 10 is positioned, and the readingand writing device that is disposed in the drive device accesses thememory board M from the undersurface side of the recording tapecartridge 10, reads the various information stored in the memory boardM, and also writes individual information as needed.

When the recording tape cartridge 10 is positioned inside the drivedevice in a state where the opening 20 has been opened in this manner,further rotation (substantially rearward movement) of the door 50 isregulated, and the pullout means of the drive device enters the insideof the case 12 from the opened opening 20, extracts the leader pin 22that is positioned and held in the pin holding portions 24, and housesthe leader pin 22 in an unillustrated take-up reel. Then, the take-upreel and the reel 14 are driven to rotate synchronously, whereby therecording tape T is sequentially pulled out from the case 12 while beingtaken up on the take-up reel, and the recording and reproducing ofinformation are performed by a recording and reproducing head (notshown) that is disposed along a predetermined tape path.

When the recording tape T is to be rewound onto the reel 14 and therecording tape cartridge 10 is to be ejected from the drive device, thepositioned state of the recording tape cartridge 10 is released, and therecording tape cartridge 10 is moved in the opposite direction of thedirection of arrow A by an unillustrated ejecting mechanism. Then, thedoor 50 is rotated by the energizing force of the coil spring 56 in thedirection in which the door 50 closes off the opening 20 while thetongue portions 51 are guided by the guide wall portions 42. Then, theleading end portion of the door 50 enters the guide wall portions 41,whereby the opening 20 is completed closed off and returns to itsinitial state.

Next, the action of the attachment member 80 that holds the IC tag 100that stores various information (e.g., inventory managing means such asindividual uniform management of the recording tape cartridge 10)separately from the memory board M will be described. In themanufacturing process of the recording tape cartridge 10, the IC tag 100is first adhered by adhering means (an adhesive, double-sided tape,etc.) to the outer peripheral surface 80A of the attachment member 80.

Then, the attachment member 80 to which the IC tag 100 has been adhered(held) is supplied to the lower case 18 by a robot hand or the like, forexample, and the locking portion 82 formed on the inner peripheralsurface 80B of the attachment member 80 is fitted together from abovewith the notch portion 70 of the play regulating wall 28 of the lowercase 18. That is, the step portion 76 formed on the notch portion 70 isfitted into the gap between the downwardly extending rib 88 of the lowersurface of the support rib 84 and the inner peripheral surface 80B.Thus, the attachment member 80 holding the IC tag 100 is positioned anddisposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the play regulatingwall 28 between the connecting ribs 66 and 68.

Then, in a later process, the upper case 16 is joined together with thelower case 18, and at this time, the step portion 72 of the playregulating wall 28 of the upper case 16 engages with the step portion 74of the play regulating wall 28 of the lower case 18 and fits inside thegap between the upwardly extending rib 86 of the upper surface of thesupport rib 84 and the inner peripheral wall 80B. Thus, the lockingportion 82 of the attachment member 80 is held between the playregulating wall 28 of the upper case 16 and the play regulating wall 28of the lower case 18, and the attachment member 80 holding the IC 100 isattached to the outer peripheral surface side of the play regulatingwall 28 between the connecting ribs 66 and 68.

In other words, thus, an attachment region for the IC tag 100 can beensured inside the case 12, and the IC tag 100 can be disposed with goodpositional precision along the outer peripheral surface of the playregulating wall 28 on the rear side of the case 12. Consequently, it canbe made difficult for reading errors and writing errors to occur in thereading and writing device that accesses the IC tag 100 from the rearsurface side of the case 12 and reads or writes information.

It will be noted that, although it is desirable for the attachmentmember 80 to be attached to the outer peripheral surface side of theplay regulating wall 28 between the connecting ribs 66 and 68, it isalright even if the attachment member 80 is not attached between theconnecting ribs 66 and 68 as long as the attachment member 80 isattached to the outer peripheral surface side of the play regulatingwall 28. In other words, there are no constraints on the thickness andshape of the attachment member 80, so the attachment position of theattachment member 80 can be freely selected depending on the space onthe outer peripheral surface side of the play regulating wall 28.

Further, in this manner, when the attachment member 80 holding the ICtag 100 has a configuration where it is attached to the outer peripheralsurface side of the play regulating wall 28 (when the attachment member80 is configured separately from the case 12), it can be ensured thatthe IC tag 100 does not directly sustain damage even if an inadvertentimpact is applied to the recording tape cartridge 10 (the case 12)because of a drop or the like.

Further, the recording tape cartridge 10 may also be given aconfiguration where the position of the attachment member 80 in thecircumferential direction of the play regulating wall 28 is moreaccurately positioned and fixed. That is, for example, as shown in FIG.8 and FIG. 9, plural (two in the drawings) tongue portions (engagementportions) 78 that project upward may be integrally formed on, so as toproject from, the step portion 76 formed on the notch portion 70 of theplay regulating wall 28, and through holes (engaged portions) 84A,through which the tongue portions 78 are inserted and into which thetongue portions 78 are fitted, may be formed in the support rib 84 ofthe locking portion 82 of the attachment member 80.

By giving the recording tape cartridge 10 this configuration, theattachment member 80 holding the IC tag 100 can be accurately positionedand fixed, without faulty attachment, in the circumferential directionof the play regulating wall 28, so it can be made even more difficultfor reading errors and writing errors to occur in the reading andwriting device that accesses the IC tag 100 from the rear surface sideof the case 12 and reads or writes information.

Further, the outer peripheral surface 80A of the attachment member 80may also, as shown in FIG. 10, be given a linear shape rather than ashape (planar view substantially circular arc shape) with substantiallythe same curvature as that of the play regulating wall 28 when seen in aplanar view. However, in this case also, it goes without saying that theinner peripheral surface 80B and the locking portion 82 of theattachment member 80 are configured to have shapes (planar viewsubstantially circular arc shapes) with substantially the same curvaturewhen seen in a planar view as that of the play regulating wall 28 suchthat the inner peripheral surface 80B and the locking portion 82 arecapable of fitting together with the notch portion 70 formed in the playregulating wall 28 of the lower case 18.

Further still, as shown in FIG. 11A, the recording tape cartridge 10 mayalso be configured such that the outer peripheral surface 80A of theattachment member 80 is surface-treated (vapor deposition, etching,plating, etc.) with a metal coating, antenna portions 90 are formed onthe outer peripheral surface 80A, and the antenna portions 90 aresuperimposed with the antenna portions 106 of the IC tag 100 that hasbeen adhered to the outer peripheral surface 80A. By giving therecording tape cartridge 10 this configuration, the communicationperformance (communication distance) resulting from the reading andwriting device can be improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, the recording tape cartridge 10 may alsobe given a configuration where, rather than adhering the IC tag 100 tothe attachment member 80, the outer peripheral surface 80A of theattachment member 80 is surface-treated (vapor deposition, etching,plating, etc.) with a metal coating, antenna portions 92 are formed onthe outer peripheral surface 80A, and the IC portion (IC chip) 104 isdirectly attached to the outer peripheral surface 80A and connected tothe antenna portions 92. Even when the recording tape cartridge 10 isgiven this configuration, the communication performance (communicationdistance) resulting from the reading and writing device can be improved.

As described above, according to the attachment member 80 pertaining tothe present embodiment, an attachment region for the IC tag 100 can beensured inside the case 12, and the IC tag 100 can be easily attachedwith good positional accuracy inside the case 12. Moreover, theattachment member 80 is attached as a result of the locking portion 82being fitted together with the notch portion 70 (the step portion 76)formed in the play regulating wall 28 of the lower case 18 and alsobeing fitted together with the play regulating wall 28 (the step portion72) of the upper case 16, so it is difficult for the attachment member80 to come off of the play regulating wall 28, and the attachability ofthe attachment member 80 can be improved.

Further, it is desirable for the IC tag 100 to be given a configurationwhere the IC tag 100 is accessed from the back label side (the rearsurface side of the case 12), so it is desirable for the IC tag 100 tobe attached to the rear portion side of the case 12, but according tothe attachment member 80 pertaining to the present embodiment, that canbe realized easily. That is, according to the attachment member 80pertaining to the present embodiment, an attachment region for the ICtag 100 can be ensured such that the IC tag 100 can be accessed from therear label side (the rear surface side of the case 12).

Further, thus, the communication distance accuracy of the reading andwriting device with respect to the IC tag 100 can be improved, so radiowaves (UHF band) transmitted from that reading and writing device can bestably received by the entire antenna portions of the IC tag 100. Thus,reading accuracy and writing accuracy can be improved, and it can beensured that reading errors and writing errors do not occur.

It will be noted that, in terms of ensuring a region for the antennaportions 106, it is desirable for the height (area) E of the IC tag 100to be as high (wide) as possible. Consequently, as is shown, it isdesirable for the height H of the attachment member 80 to besubstantially the same height as the height of the play regulating wall28 of the case 12 (the combined height of the play regulating wall 28 ofthe upper case 16 and the play regulating wall 28 of the lower case 18).In any event, this recording tape cartridge 10 can be discriminated fromother recording tape cartridges because it houses the IC tag 100.

Further, the recording tape cartridge 10 pertaining to the presentembodiment is not limited to the recording tape cartridge that is shownin the drawings and is appropriately design-alterable within a rangethat does not depart from the gist of the present invention. Forexample, although it is not shown, the recording tape cartridge 10 mayalso be given a configuration where the notch portion 70 (including thestep portion 76) is disposed in the play regulating wall 28 of the uppercase 18 or is disposed in the play regulating wall 28 of both the uppercase 16 and the lowercase 18.

Further, similarly, the recording tape cartridge 10 may also be given aconfiguration where the tongue portions 78 formed on the step portion 76are disposed on the play regulating wall 28 of the upper case 16 or aredisposed on the play regulating wall 28 of both the upper case 16 andthe lower case 18. Further, although the recording tape cartridge 10 ofthe preceding embodiment is given a configuration that includes theleader pin 22 as a leader member, the recording tape cartridge 10 mayalso be given a configuration that includes an unillustrated leader tapeor leader block.

Further, the RFID (IC tag 100) may also be a type with respect to whichthe reading and writing of information are not performed (a type thatdoes not have the function of storing information). That is, the RFIDmay also be a type that returns radio waves of a specific frequency whenit receives radio waves of a predetermined frequency (e.g., 2.45 GHz),for example. In the case of this type of RFID (IC tag 100), thecommunication distance thereof becomes equal to or less than 1.5 m, forexample, but the antenna portions 106 can be made compact.

Further, the door 50 is not limited to a door that slides in asubstantially circular arc shape when seen in a planar view and may alsobe a door that slides in a linear shape, for example. Moreover, itsuffices for the recording tape T to be understood as an elongatetape-like information recording and reproducing medium on whichinformation is capable of being recorded and from which information thathas been recorded is capable of being reproduced, and it goes withoutsaying that the recording tape cartridge 10 is also applicable torecording tape T of all kinds of recording and reproducing formats.

1. A recording tape cartridge comprising: a case that has an upper caseand a lower case and houses a reel around which recording tape is wound;a regulating wall that is formed on the upper case and on the lower caseand defines an area in which the reel is housed; an attachment memberthat is held between the regulating wall of the upper case and theregulating wall of the lower case and is disposed on an outer peripheralsurface side of the regulating wall; and an RFID that is held on theattachment member.
 2. The recording tape cartridge of claim 1, whereinthe regulating wall is formed in a planar view substantially circulararc shape, and the attachment member is formed in a planar viewsubstantially circular arc shape that is configured to havesubstantially the same curvature as that of the regulating wall.
 3. Therecording tape cartridge of claim 1, wherein a positioning portion thatpositions the attachment member is formed in at least one of theregulating wall of the upper case and the regulating wall of the lowercase.
 4. The recording tape cartridge of claim 1, wherein an engagementportion is formed on at least one of the regulating wall of the uppercase and the regulating wall of the lower case, and an engaged portionwith which the engagement portion engages is formed on the attachmentmember.
 5. The recording tape cartridge of claim 1, wherein theattachment member is surface-treated with a metal coating that iscapable of being used as an antenna portion of the RFID.
 6. Therecording tape cartridge of claim 1, wherein the attachment memberincludes a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member that includes acurved surface that has substantially the same curvature when seen in aplanar view as that of the regulating wall.
 7. The recording tapecartridge of claim 6, wherein a rib that projects from a width directioncenter portion of the plate-shaped member and extends in acircumferential direction of the curved surface is formed on theplate-shaped member, and the rib is held between the regulating wall ofthe upper case and the regulating wall of the lower case.
 8. Therecording tape cartridge of claim 7, wherein the RFID is attached to thesurface of the plate-shaped member on the side from which the rib doesnot project.
 9. The recording tape cartridge of claim 1, wherein a stepportion that projects downward is formed on a lower end surface of theregulating wall of the upper case, a step portion that projects upwardis formed on an upper end surface of the regulating wall of the lowercase, and the step portion of the regulating wall of the upper case andthe step portion of the regulating wall of the lower casecomplementarily engage with each other such that a labyrinth structureis formed at that engagement site.
 10. The recording tape cartridge ofclaim 3, wherein the positioning portion includes a substantiallyrectangular notch formed in an upper end portion of the regulating walland fits together with part of the attachment member.